Explosive projectile.



E. SCHNEIDER.

EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24. I912.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

EUGENE SCHNEIDEB, OF LE CREUZOT, FRANCE.

EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Application filed December 24, 1917. Serial 110.208,?13.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER,

a citizennof the French. Republic, residing at Le Creuzot, France, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Projectiles, which isfully set forth in the following specification. I

This invention has for its object to provide an improved explosiveprojectile of known type formortars and the like guns, comprising a bombhaving a larger caliber than the bore of the gun, and thereforeremaining outside the bore of the gun during the firing, and having aguiding stem 7 or rod which is inserted into the bore of the un andwhich at the instant of issuing rom the gun muzzle, engages by means ofa tail-piece, a sleeve having steadying vanes which has up to thatinstant been kept up against the muzzle of the gun by a relatively weakcord or other connection. This improved explosive projectile which Irefer to term a"torpedo shell has the following characteristic features:

1. It is constructed in such a manner that it can be fired from rifledmortars (which can also be employed for firing ordinary shells having acaliber corresponding to that of the mortar), so that the improvedtorpedo shell has the advantage that it allows of the use of rifledmortars which have a greater precision than smooth-bore mortars.

With this object the torpedo shell comprises a driving base piece hav ngthe same caliber as the mortar, upon WhlCh sald base -piece (which isfitted ith the usual gas check ring) the explosion of the propellingcharge acts and thus propels the entire projectile.

, 2. The driving base plece fitted with a gas check ring, is preferablyconstructed to act as a shock absorber, and for this purpose it containsa body of plastic material which on being crushed by the explosion isforced into the driving base piece, and

also dovetails itself, as it were, into the end of the guiding stem ofthe torpedo sh'el'l. Owing to the rigid connection thereby made at theinstant of firing between the driv ing base piece and the torpedo shellproper by theautomatic action of the shock absorber, the torpedo shellthereby recelves and retains the same rotational motion asthe drivingbase piece.

3. A further plastic shock absorber 1s prothe vanedsleeve. 'This furtherplastic shock absorber is intended to prevent the breakage of the vanesby the impact of the drivmg bolster.

The vaned sleeve and the driving bolster for the u1d1ng sleeve arepreferably shaped to fit tlghtly one into the other, and to crush thesaid further plastic shock absorber between them.

I Thls arrangement assures a complete and r1g1d connection between thetorpedo shell, the drivlng base piece'and the steadying vaned sleeve atthe instant of the complete e]ection of the projectile.

I A practical example of this invention is llustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

F gure 1 is a longitudinal section partly in slde elevation of thecomplete improved torpedo shell shown in position for firing from amortar; the latter being partly shown in longitudinal section.

Flg. 2 is a cross section on the line XX of Fig. 1; and

Fig. is a view, drawn to a larger scale, of the inner end of the drivingbase piece, fitted with a gas check ring.

As shown, A is the mortar barrel formed w1th rifling (not shown) wherebyit is rendered capable of being used for firing the 1mpr oved torpedoshells or ordinary shells at W111; the said ordinary shells(high-explosive shells or shrapnel) being charged in the usual way, atthe breech of the mor- The improved torpedo shell comprises in the usualmanner a bomb B fitted with its fuse and having soldered or otherwisefixed to its rear end a neck b for the reception of the guiding stem Cwhich is held in place for instance by means of pins 0. The readilyremovable connection between the bomb and its guiding stem by simplyslipping onand fixing by means of pins, has the advantage of allowingthe improved projectile to be taken to pieces for transport.

proper at l to a hook F- fixed on the breech of the mortar.

According to this invention the gases gen-- erated by the propellingcharge contained ina cartridge (i, exert their thrust upon the stem 0 ofthe torpedo shell through the medium of a driving base piece .ll fittedwith a gas cheek ring 11. of the usual type. Between the inner end ofthe driving base piece H and the rear end o of the stem C there isarranged a shock absorber I of lastic material for instance lead. -Thedrivmg base piece II on being driven forward by the explosion of thepropelling charge, crushes the shock absorber which is thereby forced onone side into a. recess 0 provided in the end 0 While on the other side.it dovetails itself as it were into recesses h (Fig. 3) formed in theend of the drivingbase piece H. The driving base piece fitted with theshock absorber I, is thereby converted into one piece, as it were, withthe torpedo shell the very commencement of the action of the propellinggases by becoming bodily engaged in the rear part of the neck C, towhich it thusimparts its forward and rotating motions; the stem C beingguided at its forward portion by the vaned sleeve 1). The latter istaken along in the usual manner by a bolster provided on the stem 0. Inthe example this holster is constituted by a Wedge-shaped ring J.

According to this invention a further shock absorber s provided on thestem C in front of the driving bolster J. In the example this shockabsorber is constituted by a lea len ring K provided at its rear with acoiled cord L serving as an'elastic butter.

The shock absorber K-L is crushed or compressed between the vaned sleeveD and the driving bolster J, which latter becomes jammed at itsconicalfront 'end into the flaring rear end (Z of the sleeve I). As soon as thevaned sleeve D is'carried along it becomes, as it were, one piece withthe stem C. From that moment a. complete and rigid union is establishedbetween the torpedo shell (bomb B and guiding stem C), the driving basepiece II and the steadying 'vaned' sleeve D.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination, a stem adapted to extendinto a gun and a projectile or bomb supported on said stem outside ofthe gun, and means normally detached from said stem but supporting thesame near the gun muzzle, said means becoming automatically attached tosaid stem when the gun is fired. 2. In combination, a stem adapted to we,tend into a gun and a projectile or bomb supported on said stem outsideof the gun, and means provided with steadying vanes normally detachedfrom said'stem but supporting the same'near the gun muzzle, said meansbecoming automatically attached to said stem when the gun is fired.

3. In combination, a bomb or projectile of larger caliber than the boreof the gun for projecting the same, a stem secured to said projectileand extending into the gun, and means normally detached from said stembut supporting the same near the gun muzzle, said means becomingalitomatically attached to said stem when the gun is tired.

4. In combination, a bomb or projectile of larger caliber than the boreof the gun for projecting the same, a stem secured to said projectileand extending into the gun, and means provided with steadying vanesnormally detached from said stem but supporting the same near the gunmuzzle, said means becoming automatically attached to said stem when thegun is.fircd.

I). In combination, a bomb or projectile of larger caliber than the boreof the gun 6. In combination, a bomb or projectile of larger caliberthan the bore of the gun for projecting the -same, a stem secured tosaid projectile and extending into the gun, a sleeve provided with vanessurrounding said stem near the gun muzzle and supporting said stem,means automatically attaching said sleeve to said stem when the gun isfired, and means normally holding said sleeve against the muzzle of thegun.

7 In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem outside of thegun, means normallydetached from said stem but supporting the Same near the gun muzzle,said means becoming automatically attached to said stem when the. gun isfired, and a shock-absorber carried by said stem and engaging said means-to prevent breakage of the same.

8. In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectile.or bomb supported on said stem outside of the gun, means provided withsteadying vanes normally detached from said stem, said means becomingautomatically attached to said stem when the gun is fired, and ashock-absorber carried by said stem and engaging said means to preventbreakage of said vanes. v

9. In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem outside of the gun, a vaned sleevesurrounding said stem near the muzzle of the gun, a wedge-shaped membersecured to said stem and adapted Ill to be driven into said sleeve, anda shockabsorber arranged in front of said member.

10. In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem outside of the gun, a vaned sleevesurrounding said stem near the muzzle of the gun, a wed e-shaped membersecured to said stem an adapted to be driven into said sleeve, and ashockabsorber arranged in front of said member;i

- said shock-absorber comprising .a ring an an elastic element.

11. In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem outside of the gun,

means supporting said stem near the gun muzzle, and a base piece cooerating with said stem within the 'gun an being of the same caliber asthe gun.

' tween the base piece and stem an the 12. In combination, a stemadapted to extend into a gun and a projectile or bomb supported on saidstem outside of the gun, a base iece cooperating with said stem within te gun and bein of the same caliber" as the gun, and shoe -absorbingmeans between said base piece and stem.

13. In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem, a base piece having its movementinfluenced by the rifling of the gun and means automatically connectinsaid base piece and stem. 4

14. n combination, ,a stem adapted to ex- 1 tend into 'a gun and aprojectile or bomb by the rifling of the gun, shock-absorbing meansarranged between said base iece and stem, and means whereby said shoc-absorbing-means automatically connects said base piece and stem whenthe gun is fired so that the movement of the base piece, stem andprojectile is influenced bythe gun rifling.

15. In combination, a stem adapted to extend'into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem, a base piece havin its movementinfluenced b the riflin 0 the gun, and a plastic b0 y arran edbeautomatically connecting said parts when the gun is fired.

16. In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem, a base piece havin its movementinfluenced by the rifling o n, said stem and base piece bein providewith recesses, and a plastic bo y arranged between said base piece andstem and being forced into said recesses when the caliber as the gun 17.In a device of the character described, a cartridge for a gun, a basepiece in juxtaposition to said cartridge, a stem coiiperatmg with saidbase piece, and a bomb or proiectile removablfy secured to the end ofsa1 stem outside 0 the gun.

18. In a device of the character described, a cartridge for a gun, abase piece in 'uxtaposition to said cartridge and provide with agas-check ring, the movement of said base piece being controlled by therifling of the gun, a stem having one end in juxtaposition to said basepiece, means 'forautomatically securin 'said stem and base piecetogether,

- .20. In a device ofthe character described,

a stem adapted to roject into a gun provided with rifling, a bomb orpro'ectile carried by said stem outside of sai gun, and means wherebysaid stem. and ,projectile are automatically made subject to the gunrifling when the n is fired.

21. In a device of the c aracter described, a bomb or projectileprovided with a rearwardly-extending sleeve, a stem having one endadapted to extend into the muzzle of a gun and the other end into saidsleeve, and means for readily attaching and detaching said bomb orprojectile to and from said sleeve.

22. In combination, a stem adapted to extend into a gun and a projectileor bomb supported on said stem outside of the gun, mgialns rovided withsteadying vanes norm becol iling automatically attached to said stemwhen the gun is fired, a shock-absorber carried by said stem andengaging said means to prevent breakage o sa1 vanes, a base piece 006erating with said stem within the gun an being of the same andshock-absorbing means between said base ieceand stem.

In testimony whereof have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. P. Pnnssnr, Arman Mosmcxmz.

etached from said stem, said means

